From the Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy at the
Veterinary Faculty of Hannover (Director: Prof. Dr. W. Löscher) and the
Scientific Institute of Electronics and Radar at the University of the
German Federal Armed Forces (Prof. G. Käs)

SUMMARY: In addition to a considerable reduction of milk yield and
increasing occurences of health problems, behavioural abnormalities that
have not yet been examined, have been observed over the last two years
in a herd of dairy cows maintained in close proximity to a TV and Radio
transmitting antenna. The evaluation of possible factors which could
explain the abnormalities in the livestock did not disclose any factors
other than the measurable high-frequency electromagnetic fields. An
experiment in which a cow with abnormal behaviour was brought to a
stable in a different area resulted in normalisation of the cow within
five days. The symptoms returned, however, when the cow was brought back
to the stable in close proximity to the antenna in question. In view of
the previously known effects of electromagnetic fields it may be
possible that the observed abnormalities are related to the
electromagnetic field exposure.

Because of the ubiquitous usage of electric power and the increasing
spread of high-frequency transmitters for mobile communication and TV &
Radio broadcasting, humans and animals in highly industrialized countries
are these days exposed to electrical and magnetic fields to a degree which
exceeds the natural tension levels of relevant fields by a magnitude and
presents a new influencing quantity in the evolutionary history of humans
and animals (Katalyse 1994). For a long time the possibility of an influence
of weak electrical and magnetic fields on the well-being of humans and
animals has simply been ignored. The limits were only relating to acute
cases of health impairment which can occur at some workplaces under
extremely high exposure rates. The ever increasing knowledge of the
biological effects of even weak electrical and magnetic fields as well as
numerous epidemiological studies with the focus on a possible increase in
the risk of cancer through field exposure have, however, led in the last ten
to fifteen years to an altered discussion of the possible risk potential of
such fields (Adey 1993; Hendee and Boteler 1994; Katalyse 1994; Meinert and
Michaelis 1996; Robert 1993; Savitz 1995; Shaw and Croen 1993; Sobel et al.
1996; Wertheimer and Leeper 1994). As one can be protected well from
electrical fields in contrast to magnetic fields, the effects of such fields
on human and animal health are rarely the focus of scientific research. In
comparison, low-frequency magnetic fields can practically penetrate any
matter without being slowed down, and high-frequency electromagnetic fields
and waves can cause biological effects - even in greater distance from their
source – which are possibly connected to health risks (Katalyse 1994).
Fields of this type which are a necessity of civilisation and have certain
health effects are commonly known as "Electrosmog".

The question of a possible risk of cancer which today cannot be
discounted mainly because of numerous findings based on experiments with
animals (Liburdy and Löscher 1997; Löscher and Mevissen 1994), occupies the
foreground of public debate about possible health risks through exposure to
low-frequency magnetic or high-frequency electromagnetic fields. In
addition, there are extensive indications of interactions of magnetic fields
with the hormonal balance, biorhythm, immune system, nervous system,
behavioural patterns and psychological functions, interactions which can
have a detrimental effect on health (Katalyse 1994; Liburdy u. Löscher 1997;
Löscher u. Liburdy 1998). In this connection it is often forgotten that not
only humans but also pets and farm animals who are exposed can suffer such
impairments to their health because of field exposure, for example in the
vicinity of high tension pylons or transmitting antennas (Marks et al.
1995). Similarly to epidemiological studies on humans with field exposed
workplaces the risk of breast cancer for hundreds living in apartments with
high flux densities of low-frequency (60 Hertz) magnetic fields was seven
times higher in comparison with animals that were not exposed (Reif et al.
1995), a finding that can be explained by the "Melatonin Hypothesis" of
magnetic field effects (Löscher and Mevissen 1997).

A series of earlier studies looked at the effect of magnetic fields on
farm animals. Lee et al. (1997) discovered that sheep which had been grazing
in close proximity to a high tension mast, showed an impaired immune system.
Examinations of dairy cows that had been exposed to magnetic fields resulted
in inconsistent findings which ranged from no influence at all to a
reduction in milk yield, changed milk composition and fertility problems
(Algen and Hultgren 1985a, b, 1987; Amstutz and Miller 1980; Angell et al.
1990; Burchard et al. 1996; Marks et al. 1995; Martin et al. 1986). The
predominant share of the examinations on dairy cows was conducted under
exposure to low-frequency (50 or 60 Hertz) fields, whereas only few studies
deal with the effect of high-frequency electromagnetic fields, for example
in the vicinity of transmitting antennas.

A recently publicized study discovered a significant increase of
micronuclei in erythrocyte in the blood of cattle grazing on a farm near a
transmitting facility. This is an indication of a genotoxic effect of the
exposure (Balode 1996).

In the case described by this study a farmer asked a veterinary
department for help after he had experienced major problems with his herd of
dairy cows since the previous year. The farm is situated in close proximity
to a transmitting tower with several transmitters (see Table 1 and Figure
1). The problems with the herd described in the following started after
several transmitters for mobile radio communication had been installed in
addition to the already existing TV transmitting antennas. As the farmer
himself and his family were experiencing considerable health problems since
the additional transmitters were installed, and none of the medical tests
conducted had shed any light on the source of these health problems, the
farmer came to the conclusion that the high-frequency electromagnetic fields
that were produced by these transmitters had to be the cause of the problems
including the problems experienced by his dairy cow herd. The relevant
veterinary department then conducted observational studies and research
which were complemented by measurements of the electromagnetic fields, with
its focus on the dairy cow herd.

Table 1: Transmitting antennas in close proximity of the farm (all
installed in the TV tower of Figure 1)

Transmitting Antenna

Frequency

Performance

39 directional radio transmitters

2.2 - 18.7 GHz

124 W (Mean)

C-Net

461 MHz

34 W

D-Net

935 MHz

25 W

B-Net

60 MHz

20 W

Cityruf

460 MHz

50 W

Eurosignal

87,361 MHz

2 kW

TV-Channel

2510 MHz

20 kW

TV-Channel

3734 MHz

20 kW

Modacom

427 MHz

15 kW

Ground Plan for Measurements outdoors

Figure 1: Ground plan for the measurements of electromagnetic fields in
the vicinity of the transmitting antennas (for examples re the measurements
see Table 2 and 3).

Observations of the dairy cow herd

Many of the biological effects and discussed health risks of
electromagnetic fields are similar to the effects of chronic stress pressure
(Blank 1995; Smith 1996). Apart from apparent problems caused by stress such
as increased aborting without detectable causes, frequent fertility
disorders in the form of an acyclic tendency and reduction in milk yield all
of which have already been observed in herds grazing in close proximity to
high tension lines (see overview in Burchard et al. 1996), the following
abnormalities occurred in the affected dairy cow herd:

Most of the cows in this herd displayed conjunctivitis with heavy flood
of tears (continuously wet cheeks) and itching (some cows rubbed their eye
areas continuously against items in the stable within reach as well as
against neighbouring cows).

Several animals were pushing their heads against the chest area of
neighbouring cows turning their heads in the same direction (away from the
transmitting antenna).

One cow showed very conspicuous behaviour by shuffling backwards and
forwards moving her head continuously (Weaving). Resting phases alternated
with the described behaviour which often lasted more than 30 minutes.

Cows in calf as well as dry cows that were put out on pasture land close
to the farm, only grazed for a few minutes each time then taking "cover"
from the transmitting tower in or behind an outbuilding.

Cows that have calved three or four times showed rapid decline. When
these cows tried to get up their hind legs showed trembling and over time
they found getting up increasingly difficult. The decline continued and led
to their death after only a few weeks.

Conducted Examinations

1. Fodder analysis and feeding calculation

To exclude that a feeding fault had caused any metabolic disorders which
in turn could be responsible for causing other health problems, a fodder
analysis and feeding calculation was initiated by the relevant agricultural
authority. The research and calculation yielded that the fodder was of high
quality and that the amount of feed stuffs administered by the farmer was in
relation to the performance of the dairy cows.

Figure 2: Typical turning of the head (away from the transmitting
antennas) displayed by cows of the herd in question (see detailed
description in text).

2. Autopsy of a perished dairy cow

The autopsy of a four-year-old cow that had died in the stable building
and had previously displayed symptoms of the same illness as described
above, provided the following result: Death from acute heart & circulatory
collapse with bleeding from several organs. No indication as to the cause,
in particular no acute or chronic inflammatory changes to organs. The
autopsy was kindly performed by Dr. Geisel, Institute of Animal Pathology at
the University of Munich.

3. Examination of aborted foetal material

The examination of aborted foetal material at the Landesuntersuchungsamt
für das Gesundheitswesen Südbayern (Federal Examination Authority for the
Health Service of Southern Bavaria) did not disclose any indication of
pathogenic causes for aborting the foetus based on the microscopic and
cultural examination and on the serological tests performed.

4. Switching stables

To obtain further indications with regard to the causes for the
behavioural changes the dairy cow which displayed very obvious changes in
behaviour and which was described under 3 in the section Observations of the
dairy cow herd, and another dairy cow were separated from the original herd
and joined another dairy cow herd in an identically partitioned stable which
was approx. 20 kilometres away from the original location. After five days
in the new stable the affected dairy cow did not show any of the conspicuous
behavioural abnormalities any more. Both cows were relocated to the original
stable after approximately two weeks. The previously affected cow displayed
the described conspicuous behavioural abnormalities again after only a few
days.

5. Measurement of the electromagnetic fields

Measurements of the electromagnetic fields in front of and on the farm
property itself were conducted by the Bundesamt für Post und
Telekommunikation (Federal Office for Postal Services and Telecommunication)
and by the Abteilung für Elektronik und Radar der Universität der Bundeswehr
München (Department of Electronics and Radar of the University of the German
Federal Armed Forces in Munich). The most important results of these
measurements are displayed in Table 2 and 3. The measurement values are
considerably below the limits set out in the 26. Verordnung zur Durchführung
des Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetzes (Verordnung über elektromagnetische
Felder; 26. BlmSchV) (26. Ordnance/Decree** for the Implementation of the
Federal Air Pollution Laws (Ordnance/Decree for electromagnetic fields; 26.
BlmSchV (Abbreviation for 26th Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetz)) dated 16.
December 1996.

Discussion

The health disorders and behavioural abnormalities described in this
paper as well as the results of the conducted examinations point to the
electromagnetic tension as the cause of the occurrences in the affected herd
of dairy cows. The main problem in conducting an definitive assessment is
the constant change in circumstances/ conditions because the farmer is
forced to continue to run his farm and to keep the losses as small as
possible. Therefore he tries to have cows which display the first signs of
being affected such as worsening general condition after calving, either
slaughtered early or taken to alternative grazing paddocks which are
situated about 10 kilometres away from his farm. The relocation and exchange
of dairy cows continuously creates a new situation because every cow reacts
to the electromagnetic tension in an individual manner. Only a
scientifically structured test of the affected dairy cow herd with set
parameters could provide more definite findings in this case. Such a test of
the affected herd is planned to clarify the causes of the observed
behavioural abnormalities and health problems further. A causal relation
could best be determined in this case by switching off the transmitting
antennas for the mobile radio communication temporarily.

Table 2: Measurements of the electromagnetic field output in the
attic storey of the farm house

Attic Window

Frequency

Signal Leval (dBm)

Leval (dBm)

Power Denisty
(m W/cm2)

closed

512.2

TV-2

-12.8

0.044

closed

464.2

C-Network

-43

0.00003

closed

936.2

D-Network

-46.8

0.000051

closed

735.7

TV-3

-15.8

0.04

open

511.4

TV-2

-13.2

0.035

open

735.7

TV-3

-7.6

0.26

Table 3: Measurements of the electromagnetic field output at different
sites in the vicinity of and in the stable and living area (see Figure 1 for
the measurement locations). The measurements were predominantly conducted at
one frequency (512 MHz) because all other signals can be put in relation to
the measurements inside the farm house (see Table 2) if we assume that the
attenuation values through the wall of the building will not differ much
within the relatively narrow frequency band (see Figure 1).

Measurement

Location

Frequency (MHz)

Level (dBm)

Power density
(m W/cm2)

In the stable

Entrance (10)

512

-9.6

0.08

In the stable

Middle Part

512

-24

0.003

In the stable

Rear Part

512

-26

0.002

Surrounding area

A

512

-10.6

0.06

Surrounding area

B

512

0

0.7

Surrounding area

C

512

-3.2

0.35

Surrounding area

F

512

-10.8

0.06

In front of stable

D

512

-3.8

0.36

Beside the stable

E

512

-22.4

0.004

Beside the stable

G

512

-2

0.46

Beside the stable

H

512

-13.4

0.03

Inside the house

735.7

-15.8

0.04

In front of the house

5

88.8

-4.8

0.006

Should the scheduled examination confirm the correlation described above
between exposure to magnetic fields and health disorders or behavioural
abnormalities then this would provide further indications that the limits
set out in the 26. BlmSchV (Abbreviation for 26th
Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetz = 26th Federal Air Pollution Laws) are too
high and require correction (see Karus u. Nießen 1996). In this case one has
to take into consideration that even though the measurements for the
different electromagnetic fields turned out to be below the limits set out
in the 26. BlmSchV, interactions between the fields when animals and humans
were exposed to them cannot be excluded because of the multitude of existing
fields with different frequencies. Synergic interactions between
electromagnetic fields with different frequencies have already been
described on a cellular level (Löscher and Liburdy, 1998) and should not be
neglected in future discussions regarding any limits of this kind.

After the above case had been published by the media and agricultural
magazines

more farmers have come forward describing similar cases. The above case
description is mainly intended to alert the Veterinary Association to the
obvious possibility of behavioural abnormalities and health problems caused
by electromagnetic field exposure of animals.

Expression of Thanks

We would like to thank Prof. Klee (Veterinary Faculty of the
Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich) for the critical checking of this
paper‘s manuscript.